Daby Touré Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
The sophomore effort from Daby Touré is a sparsely sophisticated affair. The man plays everything himself and supplies almost all the voices as well as the material -- no small feat. But don't mistake that for homemade: there's a definite light sheen here. Touré is blessed with a glorious voice that he uses to full effect, on gentle, lulling material that rarely gets up and dances (the nearest is on the closer, "Wasso," and that barely rises above a jog). Yet that doesn't matter. He pulls you in with his singing and the rhythmic pick of his guitar, with other instruments subtly faming the music, and from the very first, with "Kebaluso," you're a goner. He sings two of the songs in English, but it's debatable whether that adds anything to them. In many ways, it's remarkably similar to his debut, just more refined, and possibly even sparer, which works well. There's a delicate beauty about the whole album; at times it seems almost weightless. But there's no doubt that Touré has properly established his musical niche now. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Daby Toure, formerly a member of the band Toure Toure (his father was a member of Toure Kunda), grew up in Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal, but it's Western music that's formed him, from Dire Straits to Michael Jackson. But don't think he has no roots. There's a pan-West African sensibility running through his solo debut. He's an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, playing virtually everything on the record, with picked guitar the main instrument behind his soaring, airy vocals. There's an immediate warmth to his style, with layered vocals, and subtle keyboard work and programming from Cyrille Dufay, who provides an understated backup to Toure. But while his writing and playing are excellent, it's Toure's voice which is the stunner here. Reminiscent of Baaba Maal or Salif Keita, he can climb effortlessly through the octaves. And even though the lyrics aren't in English, he's enough of an artist to put across a sensibility, as on the lovely "Mi Wawa." His sense of home is apparent throughout, but not in a homesick manner, although he's lived in Paris for many years. It's simply who he is. On the basis of this, a record that's decidedly African but with a wide Western appeal, Daby Toure has the makings of a major star. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
